Opinion: Probe ultramarathon tragedy, but don't stop the race

Ultramarathon tragedy highlights need for stronger safety measures

China's leading sports authority has called for stricter management of events after 21 competitors died during an ultramarathon race in Gansu province on Saturday.

Some of China's elite runners were among the dead after the annual mountain ultramarathon, in Baiyin was hit by severe weather about 1 pm. Another eight were hospitalized for minor injuries.

The tragedy came after hail, freezing rain and high winds caught 172 lightly dressed marathon runners off guard as they were racing along winding mountain paths in the central part of the province.

The General Administration of Sport of China hosted an emergency meeting on Sunday at which better risk management and more comprehensive contingency plans were urged. Organizers of future events should also show a stronger sense of responsibility to prevent the reoccurrence of such tragedies, said Gou Zhongwen, director of the GASC.

"Everyone should be aware of the seriousness and complexity of the safety and risk management work involved in sports events, and we should know there are still many problems to be solved," said Gou, according to the China Sports Daily.

"Sports events have always been a focus of our people and many communities in society. Sports events are closely connected with people's daily lives. … Any management mistakes could cause safety incidents and huge losses."

Gou said different sports posed different types of risks. Events with a large number of participants have higher safety requirements when it comes to management.

Uncontrollable factors, such as the extreme weather seen in Baiyin, also make safety procedures more complicated, Gou said. That's why organizers should have a stronger sense of responsibility and better contingency plans for all emergencies.

"All levels of sports administration have been working actively on safety procedures for sports events, and they have created a stable environment for the development of sports. However, with the further reform and development of the sports industry, there are new requirements for the supervisory work," Gou said.

Long-distance running events have experienced a rapid growth in popularity in China in recent years. According to the Chinese Athletics Association, a total of 1,828 marathons were staged across the country in 2019, attracting over 7 million entries. The number of cross-country running events held in China reached 481 in 2019.

However, they have also presented recurrent problems for organizers when it comes to safety and runners cheating.

Yi Jiandong, a professor of Wenzhou University and a sports health expert, told China Central Television, better organization and stricter risk-prevention protocols are needed to improve the safety and quality of running events.

Be prepared

"Extreme weather is one of the uncontrollable factors. So we need comprehensive preventive protocols, professional alerts for all possible risks and thorough protection for all participants," Yi said.

"Meanwhile, the runners should always check their physical condition and make sure they have sufficient supplies and equipment. Runners should not take their safety lightly just for the sake of better portability and lighter equipment on the track."

A commentary by Xinhua News Agency on Sunday said despite the local government making the best efforts to rescue the runners, some lives could not be saved and there had been "catastrophic consequences". It added people wanted a comprehensive investigation into the incident to guarantee the safety of future cross-country running events.